Mystery and Uncertainty

The dialogic narrative structure of this novel creates an element of mystery, in that it causes the reader to be uncertain about what is actually happening and what is in Amanda's imagination. Furthermore, there is evidence for both interpretations throughout the novel. Since there is no narrator, the only way that the reader gains information is from Amanda and David's conversation. Since Amanda is dying and losing her mind throughout the novel, the fact that she narrates most of the events means that the reliability of the narration is weakened significantly. This, coupled with the fact that Schweblin implements a style of subtlety and vagueness, generates a mysterious and surreal atmosphere throughout the novel.

One example of this dynamic is the fact that Amanda's failing mental state leads her to lose her sense of time and start her story from the beginning on page...